Cash For Special Needs School Bike Theft

Police have branded the theft of 21 bikes from a special school as ''despicable'' - and have promised to help replace them.

Sussex Police pledged at least £1,500 to Brighton and Hove Pupil Referral Unit after the bikes, valued at a total of #2,500, were taken from a shed on the school's grounds last weekend.

Pc Grant Hebblewhite, investigating the theft, said: ``This was particularly despicable because of the loss to the kids who get so much pleasure out of the bikes, but whoever was responsible has pretty much destroyed the shed that they were in.

``Some of the bikes were new and given the number stolen, we think that more than one person was involved and possibly some form of transport as well.''

Following the theft, the school applied for a donation from the Sussex Police's Property Act Fund, which is funded by sales of confiscated property.

Pc Hebblewhite said: ``When I told the school about the donation, they were over the moon and their business manager said she was moved to tears.''

The investigation is still under way to catch those responsible for the theft and Sussex Police have asked anyone with information to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 417 of 05/09.